"We have more than 70 agreements with international universities."

The director of International Office, Javier Ganuza, takes stock and explains the strategic lines and challenges it faces Tecnun in the international arena. This is one of the strategic projects of the School. 

Q. What are the main tasks of International Office?

R. The main tasks of International Office are to manage the exchange Program, maintain and improve the network of partner universities, attend to international students coming from exchange, promote internationalization at Tecnun and its international prestige, provide international advice to students, as well as facilitate international relations for professors financial aid . 

Q. What activities or events do you organize during the course?

R. The main activity is to manage the mobility of the students that Tecnun exchanges with partner universities in other countries throughout the whole process: Orientation, application and assignment of destinations, management of applications, follow-up, scholarships... We have more than 70 agreements and each academic year we send between 80 and 100 students and receive between 50 and 60.

Short programs are also organized in summer and winter at Tecnun for international students, which allows to balance the exchange with universities that send their students to this subject program and not to study a semester of exchange. In summer students usually come from universities in the USA such as the University of Michigan or Penn State and in winter from Shanghai Jiao Tong (China) and universities in Australia. In short programs between 60 and 70 students come to Tecnun each year.

The International Office team, with a group of students, in summer 2024.

Q. Where are you going to put the focus? 

R. A detailed analysis of student demand in terms of the most sought-after universities and countries has recently been carried out, which has helped to direct efforts towards universities that are likely to be incorporated into the exchange Program and that respond to student interests.

Work will also be carried out at development on new international alliances with prestigious institutions such as the one signed last year with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT average Lab or two years ago with the U.S. business HAAS.

Q. What is the biggest challenge?

R. It is difficult for us to attract students from some partner universities because the number of subjects taught in English is limited; it would be good to increase the number of subjects taught in English at issue . That is why we offer other complementary options such as short programs or research projects that international students can do in English.

Elisabet Bosch, Michelle Gaisoa, Javier Ganuza and Marcela Maltez.

Q. What profile student comes to the School?

R. The students who come are from 2nd year to Master's Degree, sometimes from engineering careers that we do not teach, but they find in Tecnun something that meets their need for an international stay; they are usually open-minded people, curious and eager to learn and get to know new cultures. Some have known a lot of the world, others, on the other hand, when they come, it is the first time they leave their country. They are usually very grateful for the good attention given to them by all the teachers, staff and other students.

Q. What can employees do to improve the international student experience?

R. Those students who do not know Spanish when they arrive, although they are learning it with Spanish classes, are grateful for a hand with the language barrier, especially in their first days. Fortunately, at Tecnun they always find a willingness to help them, and we also have many local student volunteers (the Buddies) who accompany them during their stay, helping them to integrate and providing them with the practical necessities for living in San Sebastian.

We are especially grateful to the professors for their efforts to give classes in English, to welcome international students on projects or to lend them financial aid when they come for consultations.